Question 1

Social-cognitive psychologists suggest that the best way to predict a political candidate's performance effectiveness after election is to assess that individual's

Accepted Answer

Social-cognitive psychologists suggest that past performance in situations involving similar responsibilities is the best way to predict a political candidate's performance effectiveness after election. This is because past behavior is a good indicator of future behavior and can provide insight into how the candidate will perform in the political role.

Question 2

Unrealistic optimism could best be described as a(n)

Accepted Answer

Unrealistic optimism refers to a cognitive bias in which individuals tend to expect positive outcomes for themselves in the future, despite evidence to the contrary. This bias is often seen as a form of self-serving bias, as it allows individuals to maintain a positive self-image and reduces anxiety and stress about the future.

Question 3

A notable improvement in morale was observed among nursing home patients who experienced an enhanced sense of

Accepted Answer

Personal control refers to the sense of autonomy and ability to make choices in one's environment. This sense of control can improve morale and psychological well-being, particularly among older adults in institutional settings such as nursing homes. Options A, B, and D are not relevant to this concept.

Question 4

Compared with European-American students, Asian-American students express a somewhat greater ________ about their future performance, which may help to explain their impressive academic achievements.

Accepted Answer

The best choice is pessimism as it explains why Asian-American students express a somewhat greater concern or worry about their future performance despite achieving impressive academic results. This is in contrast to the self-serving bias, which refers to individuals attributing their successes to internal factors but blaming external factors for their failures. Unconditional positive regard refers to a supportive and non-judgmental attitude towards oneself or others, while false consensus effect refers to the tendency to overestimate the extent to which others share our beliefs and behaviors.

Question 5

Larry studies diligently because he is haunted by an image of himself being unable to get a job after graduation. Larry's diligence best illustrates the motivational impact of

Accepted Answer

Larry's motivation is based on the possible self, which refers to an image of what we potentially become. In this case, Larry is motivated by the negative possible self of being unemployed after graduation.

Question 6

Martin Seligman's positive psychology differs from the humanistic perspective in that it

Accepted Answer

Seligman's positive psychology emphasizes the use of scientific methods in researching human behavior, while the humanistic perspective places more emphasis on subjective experiences and personal growth.

Question 7

Social-cognitive theories are LEAST likely to be criticized for neglecting the importance of

Accepted Answer

The answer of Social-cognitive theories are LEAST likely to be...

Question 8

Learned helplessness is most likely to promote

Accepted Answer

Learned helplessness results in a belief that no matter what one does, they will not be able to change their situation or outcome. This often leads to a pessimistic outlook and a sense of powerlessness.

Question 9

In assessing candidates for spy missions during World War II, U.S. Army psychologists subjected them to simulated undercover conditions. This best illustrates the use of an assessment strategy favored by ________ theories.

Accepted Answer

The use of simulated undercover conditions to assess candidates for spy missions during World War II suggests the use of social-cognitive theories that emphasize the interaction between environmental factors and personal characteristics in shaping behavior. This approach views behavior as the result of both internal factors (such as personality traits) and external situational factors, providing a more integrative understanding of human behavior. Trait theories focus only on identifying and measuring individual personality traits, while psychoanalytic and humanistic theories prioritize underlying unconscious motivations and personal growth, respectively, which are less applicable to the assessment of specific skills and behaviors in real-world situations.

Question 10

Some sexually active undergraduate women do not consistently use contraceptives because they see themselves as less vulnerable to unwanted pregnancy than most other undergraduate women. This best illustrates

Accepted Answer

This behavior demonstrated by sexually active undergraduate women suggests unrealistic optimism, which is the tendency to believe that one is less likely to experience negative outcomes than others. These women believe they are less vulnerable to unwanted pregnancy than most other undergraduate women, which can lead to inconsistent use or non-use of contraceptives.

Question 11

When faced with an ever-increasing number of consumer product choices, people often experience the discomfort of

Accepted Answer

Information overload refers to the feeling of being overwhelmed and having difficulty processing information when there are too many options to choose from. This is a common experience when faced with a large number of consumer product choices, such as when shopping for a new phone or selecting a restaurant to eat at. Self-serving bias, false consensus effect, and spotlight effect are all related to cognitive biases and social psychology, but do not directly apply to the experience of information overload in consumer decision-making.

Question 12

The best indicator of a person's level of optimism is his or her

Accepted Answer

Attributional style refers to a person's characteristic way of explaining events, and those who tend to have an optimistic attributional style tend to view negative events as temporary, specific to a certain situation, and not their fault. They also tend to view positive events as more general and long-lasting. This mindset is indicative of optimism.

Question 13

Which of the following terms is used to describe the study of 15 positive emotions, desirable character traits, and enabling communities?

Accepted Answer

Positive psychology is the field of study that focuses on the promotion of positive emotions, character traits, and communities, while also addressing mental health issues. The other choices are not specifically related to this topic.

Question 14

Compared with those who made a purchase choice from among 30 different brands of jam or chocolate, those who chose from among just 6 brands expressed

Accepted Answer

People who have fewer options to choose from tend to feel more satisfied with their choice because the decision-making process is less overwhelming. Having too many choices can lead to decision paralysis, where individuals become stressed and unable to make a choice. Therefore, those who chose from among just 6 brands expressed more satisfaction with their choice compared to those who had to make a choice from among 30 different brands.

Question 15

Individuals with high self-esteem are more likely than those with low self-esteem to

Accepted Answer

Individuals with high self-esteem tend to have confidence in their abilities and are more likely to persist in the face of challenges. They believe that they are capable of success and therefore are motivated to put forth effort to achieve their goals. This is in contrast to individuals with low self-esteem who may give up more easily and have a more negative view of their own abilities.

Question 16

Our ignorance of what we don't know helps to sustain

Accepted Answer

Ignorance of what we don't know can lead us to overestimate our abilities, which can contribute to confidence.

Question 17

Throughout a National Football League season, fans of all teams guessed on average (across teams and weeks) that their own team stood about a 2 in 3 chance of winning their next game. This best illustrated

Accepted Answer

This scenario illustrates illusory optimism, which is the tendency for individuals to overestimate their likelihood of experiencing positive outcomes and underestimating their likelihood of experiencing negative outcomes. In this case, fans are overly optimistic about their team's chances of winning, despite the fact that the outcome is uncertain and there are many factors that could influence the game.

Question 18

If we are nervous about our personal appearance after adopting a new hairstyle, we are likely to ________ the extent to which others notice our nervousness and we are likely to ________ the extent to which they notice our new hairstyle.

Accepted Answer

The answer of If we are nervous about our personal...

Question 19

Overestimating the extent to which others notice and evaluate our appearance and performance is called

Accepted Answer

The spotlight effect is the tendency to overestimate how much others notice and evaluate our appearance and performance. Option A refers to a belief that outside forces have more control over one's life than one's own actions. Option B is a tendency to attribute positive outcomes to internal factors and negative outcomes to external factors. Option D refers to a fixation on a particular idea or object.

Question 20

Contemporary psychologists are most likely to consider ________ to be of pivotal importance to personality.

Accepted Answer

Contemporary psychologists, such as those in the humanistic and social-cognitive perspectives, often view the sense of self as central to personality. The self is seen as a dynamic, constantly evolving construct that integrates experiences and influences from both the individual's internal and external world.

Quiz 42: Trait Theories, Social-Cognitive Theories, and the Self